Academic Journal of Entomology 8 (3): 150-159, 2015 ISSN 1995-8994 © IDOSI Publications, 2015 DOI: 10.5829/idosi.aje.2015.8.3.95259 Corresponding Author: Samuel Derso, University of Gondar Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ethiopia. 150 A Review on Varroa Mites of Honey Bees Mebrie Zemene, Basaznew Bogale, Samuel Derso, 1 1 1 Shiret Belete, Shewatatek Melaku and Hailemariam Hailu 2 2 2 Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Gondar, Ethiopia 1 Alage Agricultural Technical Vocational Education and Training College, Ethiopia 2 Abstract: Beekeeping is an important component of agriculture and rural development program in many countries. Beekeeping plays a role in providing nutritional, economic and ecological security. The hive of honeybees with its constantly maintained optimal conditions is a suitable habitat for a diverse array of parasites and pathogens. Varroa mite is the most destructive parasite of honey bees worldwide, inflicting much greater damage and higher economic costs than all other known apicultural diseases. It is an obligate ectoparasitic mite that feeds on the haemolymph of honey bees. Varroa mites depend on adult bees for transport through the natural processes of swarming, robbing and drifting, and by beekeepers. The life cycle of the mite is closely linked to the honeybee host and lacks free living stage. The mite injures the bee through repeated intake of haemolymph and transporting honeybee viruses. The direct loss from mite infestation like reduction of the production of honey, wax and other honey bee products, cost from colony collapse as well as cost incurred for treatment and control purpose, and indirect loss from reduction of crop production due to lack of pollinators are taking away the benefit of honeybee owners and nations. Rapid detection of the mite is essential for its immediate containment. For the detection of the mite debris examination, brood and adult honeybee examination, and laboratory diagnosis can be used. There is a pressing need for more effective mite control measures. Chemical treatment, biological and biotechnical controls are the basic methods to control Varroa mite. Key words: Ectoparasite Honeybees Varroa mites Control INTRODUCTION However, the hive of honeybees with its constantly As beekeeping is an important component of dioxide level, year round ample availability of the host agriculture and rural development program in many bees, protinacious (pollen), carbohydrate (honey), and countries, useful small scale efforts have been made to wax foods, is a suitable habitat for a diverse array of encourage beekeeping intervention throughout the world parasites and pathogens. Some of the most common [1]. Beekeeping plays a role in providing nutritional, parasites and pathogens of honeybees include viruses, economic and ecological security. The business almost bacteria, fungi, protozoa, mites including Varroa mites and requires no land, capital and does not take much part of insects. Among the different parasites and pathogens the farmers’ time. Young and old people can be involved mentioned, the parasitic mite Varroa is becoming a global without gender restriction. It does not compete with other concern affecting the beekeeping industry based on components of farming systems for resource. The direct Apismellifera[4]. It is not only the beekeeping industry contribution of beekeeping includes the value of the that suffers from loss of the honeybees; rather the crop outputs produced including honey, bee wax, queen and agricultural sector is also being hit by this problem bee colonies, and other products such as pollen, royal because most plants are dependent on bees for jelly, bee venom, and propolis in cosmetics and medicines pollination. It is estimated that 80% of all crop insect [2]. Another very important contribution of beekeeping is pollinations are accomplished by honey bees [5]. through plant reproduction and conservation of the Varroa mites are obligate ectoperasitic mites that natural environment. It can be integrated with agricultural feed on the haemlymph of both brood and adult practices like crop production, animal husbandry, honey bees. The genus Varroa includes two species, horticultural crops and conservation of natural resources Varroa destructor and Varroajacobsoni, but Varroa [3]. destructor is the only species of economic importance. maintained optimal temperature, humidity, and carbon